Tools

By
Brittany Bivins

Story Created:
Jul 25, 2014 at 2:39 PM CDT

The City of Tuskegee is taking steps to encourage new businesses to move near the city's downtown area.

The City Council has approved a sales tax rebate for developers to make up for the cost of renovations and improvements in a shopping center near the square. Developers will get half of the city's 10 percent sales tax for purchases made at the Washington Plaza Shopping Center.

Mayor Johnny Ford says it will speed up the process for getting new businesses in place.

"It's an incentive to them, because the more new businesses they bring, the more dollars they generate in terms of sales taxes," Ford said.

This comes after ford announced a major development project on Exit 38, which will include several new restaurants and a hotel, but Ford says that won't hurt developers' chances to fill downtown spaces.

"Progressive cities move toward the interstate because that's where your major traffic flow is for the people going by as well as for local communities as well," said Ford.

Officials say the amount of money the developer will receive depends on how much money customers spend at plaza businesses.